Renowned peacebuilding expert and former Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Emmanuel Bombande, has affirmed that Ghana’s diplomatic silence and neutral stance on major global conflicts is not a sign of weakness or indifference, but a deliberate, strategic approach grounded in the country’s national interest.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, June 17, Bombande said Ghana’s consistent role as a mediator in international crises such as the intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran reflects a deep understanding that instability anywhere threatens Ghana’s development vision.
“Our foreign policy, from the beginning, was shaped by the reality that when there is instability globally, it directly impacts our capacity to attain our vision of economic development,” he explained.
His comments followed recent Israeli airstrikes on Iranian government and military installations—a development he described as a stark reminder of how conflicts abroad can send shockwaves through Africa’s fragile economies.
“We are a developing country, and so is much of Africa. You do not want destabilisation across the global landscape that now puts pressure on your capacity to pursue your national vision,” he said.
Bombande stressed that Ghana’s neutrality in such conflicts is a form of active diplomacy, not passive disengagement. According to him, Ghana seeks to serve as a bridge-builder, creating space for dialogue over division, especially in regions like the Middle East, where narratives are often clouded by power struggles and political entitlements.
“Basically, the antecedents of our foreign policy are built on positive neutrality. When there is a global crisis, Ghana wants to mediate and be an intermediary.”
He also took a swipe at what he described as the weaponisation of victimhood by some powerful states. “There’s a sense of entitlement in the aggressor always positioning themselves as the victim. They’re not ready to see it the other way around.”
While avoiding direct criticism of either side in the Israel-Iran conflict, Bombande returned to what he called Ghana’s “stability-first diplomacy”, a pragmatic doctrine designed to shield the country from the economic aftershocks of international conflict.
“We are coming out of a situation where the economist will tell you, we’re beginning to look on the brighter side. Some of our indicators are being upgraded. The last thing we need is the type of instability that now draws us back to where we came from, where we do not want to be.”
In conclusion, Bombande emphasized that Ghana’s quiet moments during international turmoil are not a sign of disengagement but rather a calculated pause for peace, grounded in both moral principle and national interest.
